Ilustration: Emmy Ludwig
A Brief Introduction to the
Religions
Represented on the Tolerance Homepage
By Vaughan McTernan, Ph.D., Abdul Baten Pathan,
Ph.D. & Evelyn Hayden
Agnostic
An Agnostic believes that the evidence for or
against the existence of god is inconclusive; the
burden of proof rests on those who make positive
claims in either direction. Agnosticism abides by
the Humanist philosophy which stresses the
inherent dignity and worth of each person,
concern for the interests and welfare of human
beings, and asserts that every individual has the
capacity for self-actualization without the use
of supernaturalism.
http://www.americanhumanist.org/
Buddhism
 Buddhism is based on the
teachings of the Buddha who lived in India from
about 563 to 483 BCE (or BC). The Buddha was a
man who taught people about why life involves
suffering and dissatisfaction and how to
eliminate them. His teachings begin with The Four
Noble Truths and The Eight Fold Path which teach
how to minimize suffering and attain inner peace,
also called enlightenment.
The Four Noble Truths are that:
1. All life involves suffering and
dissatisfaction.
2. Suffering and dissatisfaction originate
in our desires and in our inability to recognize
that all things are impermanent.
3. Suffering can cease – there is a
state of being in which there is no suffering.
This is Enlightenment or Nirvana.
4. There is a way to achieve this state of
being. (And that is to follow the Dharma or
teachings of the Buddha)
Achieving Enlightenment begins with following
The Eight Fold Path which is:
1. Right Understanding: seeing through the
illusions of life, such as that fame will bring
you happiness.
2. Right Thought or Motives: not being
self-centered, not fearing what others think of
us, doing things for others that are not for
self-benefit, and not expecting a return of
benefit.
3. Right Speech: no vain talk, lying,
gossip or tale-bearing and no harsh words. Use
communication for the good.
4. Right Action: moral conduct, base
actions on right understanding. This includes the
Five Lay Precepts:
- Avoid killing
- Avoid lying
- Avoid
stealing
- Avoid
intoxication
- Avoid misuse
of sexuality
5. Right
Livelihood: One’s job should not harm others
or disrupt social harmony.
6. Right Effort: Continually striving to
act rightly
7. Right Mindfulness: Be aware of your
state of mind in every moment. Be self-aware,
understand your motives, don’t let your ego
take over.
8. Right Meditation: Use meditation to
quiet and discipline the mind
These ways of acting and thinking center around
the goals of seeing life objectively, living
kindly and ethically, and cultivating inner peace
through discipline and meditation.Buddhism
incorporates ideas of karma and reincarnation.
Contrary to popular western ideas of
reincarnation, as mentioned above in regard to
Hinduism, in Asian religions continual
reincarnation is not desirable and a person seeks
to be liberated from the cycle of death and
rebirth.
After the time of the Buddha, three main branches
of Buddhism developed: Theravada, Mahayana and
Vajrayana. Theravada is closest to the original
teachings of the Buddha. It centers around the
monastic life and the monks’ pursuit of
nirvana through mental and physical discipline.
Mahayana Buddhism is divided into many branches
including Zen, Tendai, Shingon, Nichiren and
Pureland. In Mahayana, having compassion for
others is central to turning the focus away from
the self and attaining enlightenment. Vajrayana
Buddhism is associated with Tibetan Buddhism.
There are three main levels of working toward
enlightenment. The first is quieting the mind and
relinquishing attachments. The second is training
to be loving and compassionate and taking vows to
help do this. The third is the most advanced and
involves rigorous study, meditation practices and
vows.
http://home.earthlink.net/~srama/index.html
Christianity
 Christianity developed
among the Hebrew people in Israel at a time of
political turmoil. Israel was under Roman rule
and religious factions had developed in Judaism.
The Jewish people expected a religious political
leader, a Messiah, to deliver them from foreign
rule. In about 23 CE (or AD) Jesus, a Jewish man
who was learned in Jewish law and scripture,
began a spiritual ministry. He taught about the
Kingdom of God and called upon his followers to
love God and other people. He urged compassion
and forgiveness, non-violence, and help for the
poor and the oppressed. As many prophets before
him had done, he called upon the Jewish people to
renew their covenant with God with an emphasis on
faith and righteousness as the best way to be in
relationship with God. He stated that to love God
and to love your neighbor as yourself were the
greatest commandments in Judaism, and all the
other commandments were based upon those two.
Jesus gathered disciples around him who helped
with his ministry. These disciples began to
consider Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, who would
usher in the Kingdom of God. The Jewish
authorities and the chief priests, the Pharisees,
saw Jesus as a political and religious threat,
and so they arranged to have Jesus crucified.
According to Scripture, three days after Jesus
had died on the cross, his followers found his
tomb empty. His disciples then experienced the
living presence of Jesus and believed that he was
resurrected from the dead by God. They believed
he was the Son of God, sent by God to bring
humanity back into close relationship with God
– i. e. to redeem humanity from sinfulness.
The story of Jesus’ life and ministry and
the ministry of the disciples and the Apostle
Paul is recorded in The New Testament. The Hebrew
Bible, known to Christians as The Old Testament,
is combined with The New Testament to form the
Christian Bible. The Bible is the sacred
scripture of Christianity. Many centuries
of debate took place before Christian doctrine
was worked out. Various councils produced the
central creeds of the faith. The Holy Trinity is
the belief that God, although one, is three
"persons" or aspects: God the Father,
Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus
is both fully human and fully divine. Christians
believe in life after death, promised when Jesus
was raised from the dead.
As Christianity developed, divisions arose.
Eventually, in 1054 CE the western church based
in Rome split from the eastern church based in
Constantinople. The Eastern Orthodox Church then
developed regionally into Russian Orthodox, Greek
Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox and others. The
Roman Catholic Church dominated western
Europe until the 1500s when the Protestant
Reformation began. Reformation churches split
from Catholicism forming various different
denominations such as Lutheran and Presbyterian
as well as the Anglican Church. Today there are
many Protestant denominations as well as
independent Christian churches not associated
with any particular denomination.
Hindu
 Hinduism is a group of
different religious traditions that developed in
India beginning over 4,000 years ago. The variety
of beliefs indicates their ancient and diverse
origins. Many of these religious traditions honor
the ancient scriptures called Vedas which were
written down beginning in about 1500 BCE (or BC),
but which many Hindus believe were heard
thousands of years before that. One of these, The
Upanishads, records insights into external and
internal spiritual reality called Brahman and
Atman. Brahman is the one essence that makes up
all of reality. Everything is ultimately one
thing and that is Brahman. Atman is what the
Brahman within human beings is called. It is the
innermost spirit of all people. In Hinduism,
there are many Gods and Goddesses, that most
Hindus believe are the one ultimate reality,
Brahman, manifested in different forms. Vedic
religion honors Gods and Goddesses with specific
rituals and sacrifices. The Vedas established the
priestly or Brahmin caste to perform these
functions, as well as establishing the rest of
the caste system. Beginning around 300 BCE, other
sacred texts, manuals and epics were written
which are also formative of Hindu beliefs.
The majority of Hindus follow the path of
devotion to one or more Gods and Goddesses. These
deities represent the male Perusa or spirit and
the female Sakti or energy that combine to make
up everything in the cosmos. Some deities are
androgynous to represent this combination.
Rituals honoring them are performed
daily. Karma and reincarnation are central
to Hindu views of morality, society and the way
the universe works. The laws of karma determine
that the consequences of one’s actions will
be experienced either in this life or the next.
Contrary to popular notions of reincarnation, the
Hindu wishes to be released from the constant
cycle of death and rebirth in which he or she
experiences the effects of karma. Release from
the cycle takes a person beyond all the
limitations of self to identify with the sacred
unity of Brahman, the essence of the universe.
There are various paths that lead to release, and
they are often combined with devotionalism. These
include meditation, philosophical study,
different kinds of yoga and asceticism. Often,
people will choose to study spiritual discipline
with a guru, a person who is spiritually
enlightened. Hindus are generally accepting of
other religious traditions because all are seen
as paths to release and Brahman. There are
different levels of spiritual development and
each individual must follow the path that is best
suited to him or her.
http://www.hindu.org/
Islam
 Islam is a monolithic
religion in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It
recognizes Judaism and Christianity as its
precursors and honors the same prophets and
central figures such as Adam, Abraham and Moses.
As do Jews and Christians, Islamic people worship
one God, the God of Abraham. In Arabic the
word most often used for God is Allah. People who
are Islamic are called Muslims.
The prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the
one who brought the word of Allah to humanity.
Muhammad was born in the middle-east in 570 CE
(or AD). As he received the word of Allah he
developed Islam as a way of life. Eventually the
suras, or verses, he received were written down
and this divine book is called the Qur’an.
All of Islam is based upon the Qur’an. It is
considered the final edition of divine books,
after the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, and
Muhammad is considered the final prophet.
Muhammad lived his life according to the
Qur’an and all of his actions and words as
recorded by proven reliable sources are written
in the Hadith. Muhammad is looked to as the ideal
by Muslims who seek to emulate him in their own
lives. Muslim Law, called the Shariah, is based
upon the Qur’an and the Hadith.
The central beliefs in Islam are that:
1. There is only one Allah i.e. one God.
2. The prophets were the messengers of
Allah and Muhammad was the final prophet. He is
"Seal of the Prophets," the last and
ultimate authority in the prophetic tradition.
(Neither Muhammad nor any of the other prophets
are divine since there is only one God.)
3. The Qur’an is the final edition of
divine scriptures. It is the ultimate word of
Allah.
4. The angels serve and praise Allah.
There are four Archangels including Gabriel the
highest angelic being. Angels record the good and
bad deeds of humans.
5. There will be a day of final judgment
when all humans are resurrected and become
accountable for their deeds. What we experience
in the afterlife will reflect how we have lived
in this world and whether or not we have had
faith in and been obedient to Allah. For those
who have lived justly and mercifully the
afterlife will be a garden Paradise. For those
who have not it will be a tortuous hell.
There are five basic duties of a Muslim also
called the Five Pillars of Islam. They are:
1. To declare that there is no God but
Allah and Muhammad, peace be upon him, is His
Messenger.
2. To pray five times a day.
3. To fast from sunup to sundown during
the month of Ramadan if one is physically able,
abstaining from food, drink, sexual intercourse
and smoking.
4. To donate at least two and a half
percent of one’s income after basic expenses
to the poor.
5. To go on pilgrimage to Mecca once
during one’s life if he or she can afford
it.
These duties teach a Muslim fellow feeling and to
love and care for each other. Peace, harmony and
justice are vital in Islam, and these duties help
to bring them about. There are two main kinds of
Islam, Sunni and Shi’a (or Shi’ite).
Sunni Muslims are by far the majority (90%) in
the world. Sunni Muslims promote racial harmony
as one of the basic messages of Islam.
http://www.al-sunnah.com
Judaism
 The history of Judaism is
the story of the Hebrew people and their
relationship with God. It begins around 4,000
years ago and is recorded in the Hebrew Bible or
Tanakh (which Christians call The Old Testament).
The Torah or Pentateuch, also known as The Five
Books of Moses, makes up the first part of
the Hebrew Bible. It is considered the most
sacred section of the scripture. The Hebrew Bible
begins with God’s creation of the world and
tells the history of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and
the twelve patriarchs who make up the tribes of
Israel. It tells of Moses, the Exodus, the
creation of Israel and the time of the prophets.
It sets down God’s law for the Jewish people
beginning with the Ten Commandments, and records
the Covenant between God and the Hebrew people.
After the final destruction of the holy center of
Judaism, the Temple of Jerusalem, in 70 CE (or
AD), the Jewish people were dispersed into many
lands. However, they continued to be unified
through the teachings of the rabbis and
traditional practices. Communities were
established which flourished but also endured
horrible persecution. Anti-Semitism (hatred of
Semitic peoples which includes the Jews) was
particularly strong in Christian Europe, even
while Judaism was accepted in Islamic parts of
the world. Centuries of persecution and hatred in
Europe reached a climax during World War II with
the Holocaust. One third of all Jews were killed.
After the war, in 1948, the Nation of Israel was
re-established to provide a homeland for the
Jewish people.
Judaism recognizes the presence of God in
community and also the sanctity of human life. By
keeping the Ten Commandments, keeping the
Sabbath, observing holy days and festivals, and
following dietary practices, the presence of God
among the people and the righteousness of the
community are actively strengthened. The
Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday to
sundown Saturday. This time is set aside as
sacred. Among the most important religious
holidays are the High Holy Days which include
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These are a time of
spiritual renewal and atonement.
Different types of religious practice have
developed in Judaism resulting in branches which
hold diverse views on Jewish identity and
practice. The four main branches of Judaism today
ranging from the most traditional to the most
open to change are Orthodox, Conservative,
Reformed and Reconstructionist. All types of
Judaism are focused on the daily relationship
between God and the community. Concern is for the
present life of the community and the well-being
of the individuals within it. Concern is not
focused on an afterlife. Humans are to love God
above all else and to live righteously before God
in community. In the modern era, many Jews
consider themselves secular Jews and do not
follow religious laws and practices. However,
they strongly identify themselves as part of the
Jewish people.
http://bahai.freeservers.com/jewish.html
Native
American Spirituality
Native American Spirituality is a belief in an
all knowing, all powerful Creator whose presence
is rooted in the natural world, i.e. Mother
Earth, Father Sky, animals, water, fire, and
people. Everything is a part of Creation. All is
sacred. Creation is an integrated part of all
living and non living things. There is an
acceptance that all things come together in the
right place, right time, with the right
elements/people for the right reason.
Lessons and stories, including the creation
story, ceremonies, animal stories, and
understanding of the natural order, are passed
down through oral traditional from one generation
to the next. Native American Spirituality follows
the natural order of life and death. There is a
high value placed on children, elders,
environment, nature, community, and humility
.
There is significant diversity within the Native
American people. There are over 550 federally
recognized tribes and over 200 non-recognized
tribes/organizations in the United States. The
Native American population has increased by
approximately 26 percent over the past decade as
indicated by the 2000 census figures
released by the Census Bureau March 12, 2001.
Native Spirituality stories and lessons differ
from tribe to tribe, but the belief in a Creator
rooted in the natural world is central to all.
Other Resources:
The Pluralism Project
Committee on the Study of Religion, Harvard
University
URL: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/
Denominations and Faith Groups in
Williamsport, PA*
African Methodist Episcopal
African Methodist Episcopal Zion
American Rescue Workers
Amish
Assembly of God
Bahi
Buddhist
American Baptist
National Baptist
Southern Baptist
Independent Baptist
Brethren in Christ
Christian Church, Disciples
Christian Churches of Christ
Christian and Missionary Alliance
Church of Christ, Scientist
Church of God
Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints
(Mormon)
Church of the Nazarene
Eastern Orthodox (Orthodox Church in America)
Episcopal Church
Free Methodist
Friends (Quaker)
Hebrew
Hindu
Independent
Islam
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jewish
Lutheran
Mennonite
Pentecostal Assemblies of God
Presbyterian Church in America
Presbyterian Church USA
Presbyterian, Orthodox
Roman Catholic
Salvation Army
Seventh Day Adventist
United Church of Christ
United Methodist
Wesleyan
*List courtesy of United Churches of Lycoming
County
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